Staff Reports
Two unexpected allies, Republican firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and progressive “Squad” member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have come together to send a message to President Joe Biden: end the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and drop the charges against him. It’s not every day you see these two on the same side of an issue!
Republican firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and "Squad" member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) joined forces to tell President Joe Biden to end the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and drop charges against him.https://t.co/8VpxHjGglm
— Conservative News Daily (@ConservNewsDly) November 10, 2023
In a bipartisan letter signed by 16 members of Congress, including some from the Squad like Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Jamaal Bowman, Greene and Ocasio-Cortez argue that prosecuting Assange could criminalize common journalistic practices and hinder the work of the free press. They emphasize the importance of journalists seeking out sources and reporting on government activities – a duty they believe should not be compromised.
Now, hold on a minute, why is Assange in prison in the first place? Well, he’s been locked up in the UK’s Belmarsh Prison since 2019, awaiting extradition to the United States. You see, Assange published classified U.S. military documents and diplomatic cables over a decade ago, which didn’t sit well with the powers that be. But does that mean he deserves to face a potential 10 years in prison for Espionage Act charges? Greene, Ocasio-Cortez, and their fellow signatories don’t think so.
The letter also raises concerns about the potential negative impact on America’s relationship with Australia, as Assange is an Australian citizen who has never set foot in the U.S. It’s a valid point. We don’t want to strain our alliances over this one man.
Interestingly enough, the group points out that even the Obama administration decided against prosecuting Assange back in 2013 due to concerns about press freedom. At the time, Biden himself was vice president and supported the decision. But now, it seems the tide has turned, and some are worried about the dangerous precedent this prosecution could set.
So there you have it, two unlikely allies putting aside their differences to defend Assange and speak out on the importance of journalism in our society. Who knows, maybe this could be the start of a beautiful friendship? One can only hope.
